Glossary · Reading the business
Customer Lists
In short
These are records of a business's current and past customers, often including contact information and purchase history. They are a valuable intangible asset representing future revenue potential.
What it means in a deal
As part of due diligence, you'll want to review the business's customer lists to understand its customer base, concentration risk, and recurring revenue potential. These lists are often considered a general intangible and can serve as collateral for an SBA loan. Ensure you understand how the seller maintains and transfers this asset.
Related terms
Common questions about Customer Lists
- How does the SBA typically value intangible assets like customer lists or software for collateral?
- Can a 7(a) loan finance the purchase of intangible assets like customer lists or trade secrets in a business acquisition?
- How does a lender perfect a lien on intangible assets such as customer lists or proprietary software for a 7(a) loan?
- Is it possible to finance a business with an SBA 7(a) loan where most of its value is intangible assets like customer lists and brand reputation?
- Can a high customer concentration (e.g., one customer is 50% of revenue) jeopardize my SBA 7(a) loan approval?
- Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance the intangible assets of a service business, such as client lists or recurring contracts?
Reddit-style: what is Customer Lists?
A plain-English, discussion-style recap of the answer above — how Reddit would present it.
What does "Customer Lists" mean?
These are records of a business's current and past customers, often including contact information and purchase history. They are a valuable intangible asset representing future revenue potential.
As part of due diligence, you'll want to review the business's customer lists to understand its customer base, concentration risk, and recurring revenue potential. These lists are often considered a general intangible and can serve as collateral for an SBA loan. Ensure you understand how the seller maintains and transfers this asset.
Defined by CapBench SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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